Can't they just play their game? Does it all have to be another tired exercise in public religion and cheap patriotism?

Those players aren't Christians or patriots. They're just a bunch of fast-living overpaid athletes.

And the crowds are generally on their second or third beer by the time they pray or kneel or listen to another bad version of the Star-Spangled Banner. Which, no matter how many times they sing it, never includes the second verse, the third verse, or the fourth verse. If people care so damned much about the anthem, then why don't any of these uber-patriots even know the words to all 4 verses of it, eh?

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

We were just praying over the country and praying over things going on.

No problem. Just do it beore or after the National Anthem. Doing it during the National Anthem is disrespectful.

Then again, everyone knows that's why you're doing it.

During the national anthem is not the time to pray.

You mean, during one verse of the national anthem.

If you guys love it so much, why don't you demand the entire anthem be played? If you just sing the first verse, it closes with a question as to whether the Banner would survive the battle. As you progress into verses two, we find the Banner is holding on through the battle. In verse three, the Banner is waving in victory over the battle. Then verse 4 concludes by informing us that the Banner shall wave forever.

For all the noise you hear about it, I don't think that the uber-patriots even like the anthem all that much. Not enough to pay attention to all four verses anyway.

I bet 90% of America has no idea there are four verses, not one.

We like it the way it is and don't really care what a moron like you says.

Like I said you are just a whiney little bitch that only complains about everything.

He withdrew us from the Paris climate treaty.

It just means he isn't using the office of POTUS to finance or otherwise support anything. BIG FUCKING DEAL, he saved the USA a few million bucks by eliminating WH staff to attend the accords; meanwhile, the mutherfucker intends to create war in IRAN and NK and support DACA. He is a liar and a thief to the American People. He is driving the federal government debt UP and not down.

This means MORE taxes.

North Korea deserves to be destroyed. Same with your Muslim buddies in Iran.

North Korea threatens to nuke us and opresses it's people. That regime needs to be destroyed and killed mercilessly.

I think their people would help us if given the chance.

If you were in North Korea suffering I could understand your constant bitching. But not in America the greatest country ever. We have our problems and injustices. They pale in comparison to most if not all other nations.

We should always be improving and striding to do more. But You're just a petty whiner.

North Korea threatens to nuke us and opresses it's people. That regime needs to be destroyed and killed mercilessly.

Please explain in more detail. I am certain you don't give a shit about the North Korean People.

I don't necessarily think we should attack North Korea because of their threats. I also know it may be necessary. It doesn't matter what I think what's going to happen is going to happen regardless of what you or I think should be done.

More prayer, and less worship of the false god of government is a good thing.

Most of the comments so far, seem to come from government cheese worshipers. Pathetic.

It doesn't matter what I think what's going to happen is going to happen regardless of what you or I think should be done.

What are you doing to formulate action other than vote losers into the WH?

What are you doing to formulate action other than vote losers into the WH?

You prove again you are a whiny ass bitch.

It's a good anthem. Hard to sing (because it is famously based on a drinking song about a Greek hero who strangled on his own voice trying to sing an impossible song, so the POINT of the original tune was actually that it's really hard to sing), but the tune is stirring.

There are a few national anthems in the world that have really great music. Probably the most influential of all has been the Marseillaise, because it's got's a kick-ass tempo and is great for marching. After the Russians had their revolution a Russian version of the Marseillaise was their national anthem for a few years.

During their revolution, before they won the government, the anthem of the Chinese Communists was the Chinese Marseillaise. There's a Latin American Socialist Revolutionary Marseillaise. That particular tune stirs people up, and the bloody revolutionary history behind it seems to move from mind to revolutionary mind around the world.

The British anthem "God Save the Queen", that tune, was likewise used by many of the other royal houses of Europe back in the day as their anthem. The anthem of Tsarist Russia was "God Save the Tsar", to the same tune, at least during part of its history. The anthem of Switzerland is still the same tune as God Save the Queen. And of course our own alternate patriotic song "My Country Tis of Thee" is likewise set to that tune.

The German anthem has a nice tune. Over the course of history they keep changing the words (can't think why), but the tune remains the same and is nice.

Israel's anthem, "Hatikvah", really sounds Jewish. Can't explain that, but if you hear it you'll know what I mean.

I'll give honorable mentions to the Dutch, Spanish and Danish anthems too.

Our anthem is pretty good. Of course I'm biased. I'm sure that sound of our anthem sets people's teeth on edge elsewhere, which is not a terrible thing (they're jealous).

So, if I put together a triplet of anthems, I'd put in mine - just because - and then I'd pick the two most "effective" anthems at moving people around the world - and those would be the Marseillaise and the Imperial March from Star Wars.

People tend to forget that France was, a few centuries ago, the superpower of Europe. No one really dared challenge her in her prime. And that anthem recalls that era of stalwart French arms and bloodthirsty patriotism.

Otherwise, it's a bit overblown.

I kind of like the ennui of the Canadian anthem. And the frivolity of the Aussies' unofficial anthem, Waltzing Mathilda (also a haunting theme song for the late Fifties anti-nuke movie On The Beach).

The nation is all-fucked upped because of voters akin to you. And you call me a whiny ass bitch because of your failures?

The nation is fucked up because of liberals like you.

You live in California and it is one fucked up state because of amoral people such as yourself.

Keep whining bitch.

Keep whining bitch

Napoleon recognized the particularly incendiary nature of the song, and suppressed it for several years during his imperial rule, then revived it at the end when he needed to raise armies fast for the final defense of France.

The song has a particular emotional strain to it and a rhythm that stir the blood, and not just French blood.

Example from the other side of the world, with Mao in it as a bonus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54hau6wZpEE

Tchaikovsky used it to great effect in the 1812 overture, where it has the same effect as the Darth Vader theme/Imperial March in Star Wars. You can tell what is happening by the advance and falling off of the Marseillaise in the Overture, with the cannons, and then the church bells pealing all over Russia: the Evil Empire has been defeated!

The anthem is not simply the anthem of superpower France, but it comes from desperate era of revolutionary France, when all of the other great nations of Europe, literally all of them all declared war on the French Republic all at once. Just like the Star Spangled Banner was written in a spirit of great anxiety, by a man watching a battle unfold, not knowing which side would win, the Marseillaise was written at the moment of the war of decision: would France prevail, or would Europe's combined arms drive the French people down under a restoration of the old order. It wasn't an "after the fact" song, but a very "We're about to be crushed - rise now!" song, when the issue was very much in doubt.

"Come, you children of the fatherland, the day of glory has arrived! Against us tyranny has raised the bloody banner! (repeat) Do you hear in the countrside their fierce soldiers' roar? They come, even to our arms, cutting the throats of your sons and your wives. To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Forward march! Forward march! That their impure blood shall overflow our furrows!"

Thanks for sharing.

That their impure blood shall overflow our furrows!"

I keep wondering how long that line can remain once the SJW snowflakes start harping about it.

I kind of like the ennui of the Canadian anthem.

There really are two Canadian anthems: the English one, which is rather dull and sort of a pointless promise to "guard" a country that hasn't been under threat since Napoleon invaded Russia. And then there is the French one (which is the original), which is really a cultural anthem of French Canadian history and pride - none of which ships over into the English words written to the tune.

English version: O Canada, our home and native land, true patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

French version (in English): Oh Canada, land of our ancestors, your brow is crowned with glorious garlands because your arm knows how to carry the sword, and it knows how to carry the Cross. Your history is an epic of the most brilliant exploits. And your valor, steeped in faith, will protect our homes and our rights - Will protect our homes and our rights.

I keep wondering how long that line can remain once the SJW snowflakes start harping about it.

Forever. The French never have given a damn about what other people think is "proper", and never will. And the "replacement" French - French-speaking Muslim Berbers - are as bloodyminded as the Gauls ever were.

And the crowds are generally on their second or third beer by the time they pray or kneel or listen to another bad version of the Star-Spangled Banner.

You are way off, unless you are only mentioning the "backdoor Baptists."

The adult beverage prices at NFL stadiums are in the $10 range now...could be more this year and this is based on the smallest portions.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/240015/price-of-a-beer-in-the-national- football-league-by-team/

So according to season ticket holders I work with, most people are plastered before entering the gates of the stadium. They tailgate and get three sheets to the wind so they don't have to buy at the stadium.

Last time I went to an NFL game was over 15 years ago. There were so many happy and angry drunks entering the stadium you would think was some Greek fraternity party.

Then when it wears off by the 3rd quarter and the home team is losing...watch out...now you have hungover angry fans.

Never went back after that experience.

However a good friend has roped me into a Cowboys game this year. Will report back how that goes. :-)

The adult beverage prices at NFL stadiums are in the $10 range now...could be more this year and this is based on the smallest portions.

It's totally outrageous.

They get the usual politico scumbags to bilk the public into building massive free stadiums for them, then they gouge them to death on ticket prices and snacks.

What about this:

What about it?

There was never an official Confederate anthem. Dixie was no more an official anthem than was Waltzing Mathilda for the Aussies.

There were three contenders to become the Confederate anthem. None were enacted as official.

Dixie was no more the Confederate anthem than the The Second Confederate Navy Jack (1863–1865) was the Confederate flag. For all the pissing and moaning we hear about the Confederate flag, almost no one knows that the flag they're protesting is one that was only used by the Confederate navy for about two years before it was changed to another flag before the War Of Northern Aggression ended.

Americans generally have no idea of what they're protesting about and this is true of the Confederacy as anything else. Dumbasses and astroturf.

What about it?

I like it.

Meh. Dixie is obviously just some old Scottish folk song, not that impressive to non-Scotsmen.

OK, I like interesting songs. Give some examples of better ones (from that time) that I can enjoy :)

OK, I will provide you Polish song from 1831

And from first half of XX century:

They get the usual politico scumbags to bilk the public into building massive free stadiums for them, then they gouge them to death on ticket prices and snacks.

Then they wonder why they have drunken, gorged slobs falling in the gates AFTER the national anthem.

Since they charge like $50 bucks for parking I guess they don't mind.

I remember in the 70s the Irish society club my Irish uncles belonged to used to roll kegs on to the club bus for the short 20 min ride. That was just to Yankees games. No one got off the bus before the kegs were empty.

Then enduring drunk Irish uncles in the cheap bleacher seats heckling the opposing teams right fielder.

I learned a lot about life during those games. Lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTsg9i6lvqU